Titans Insider » Damian Williamshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans
Titans news and analysis from Tennessean.comSun, 16 Mar 2014 15:26:22 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6Hunter and Williams ready to move onhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/12/18/hunter-and-williams-apologize-to-teammates/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/12/18/hunter-and-williams-apologize-to-teammates/#commentsWed, 18 Dec 2013 22:06:39 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=28102Titans wide receivers Damian Williams and Justin Hunter were back on the practice field Wednesday and will be available to play in Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.

Coach Mike Munchak on Wednesday said the players weren’t “suspended” for last Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, but he decided to deactivate them for “violating a team rule” the day before the game. He would not divulge the rule.

The players expressed regret and apologized to teammates. On Wednesday, both downplayed the incident.

Said Williams: “We just made a mistake. We didn’t go out and kill anybody. We violated a rule. We learned from it and we’re moving forward. I wish you guys (in the media) would move forward, too, dang. It was a team violation. It is done with, we hurt the team and we’re ready to move on.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/12/18/hunter-and-williams-apologize-to-teammates/feed/0Outlook not bright for Walker against Denverhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/12/06/outlook-not-bright-for-walker-against-denver/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/12/06/outlook-not-bright-for-walker-against-denver/#commentsFri, 06 Dec 2013 19:40:39 +0000JOHN GLENNON, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=27939Chances of Titans tight end Delanie Walker playing against the Broncos on Sunday are not so good after he missed practice all week.

Coach Mike Munchak officially listed Walker (concussion) as questionable, but will make a final decision on his playing status after working him out Saturday morning.

Munchak pointed out that tackle David Stewart has played after not practicing all week, but it’s difficult. The fact that Walker is an eighth-year pro will help him.

“You’d rather not have to do it,” Munchak said. “… He’s a guy that could get away with doing it, and maybe we use him in more of a limited package.”

Walker, who was hurt last week against the Colts, didn’t sound overly optimistic about his chances.

“I didn’t practice all week. You’ve got to get at least one practice in so you can play, but we’ll see how it goes tomorrow and how I feel,” Walker said. “We’ll go from there.”

Walker, who has a team-leading five touchdown catches among his 45 receptions, didn’t completely rule out playing without any practice.

“I think I could,” Walker said. “But it’s always good to get practice in, especially going against a good team like Denver.”

In addition to Walker, the Titans listed tight end Craig Stevens (concussion), wide receiver Damian Williams (hip) and Stewart (shoulder) as questionable. Stewart practiced Friday for the first time this week. Munchak sounded optimistic about all three playing against the Broncos.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/12/06/outlook-not-bright-for-walker-against-denver/feed/0Washington ready to make differencehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/27/washington-ready-to-make-difference/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/27/washington-ready-to-make-difference/#commentsWed, 27 Nov 2013 23:19:19 +0000JOHN GLENNON, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=27786The Titans have had plenty of problems in the return game this season.

They’re banking on Leon Washington, a two-time Pro Bowler signed on Tuesday, to provide something different.

“We’re hoping he’s the answer,” coach Mike Munchak said. “I think he brings a lot of confidence to the team now in general. I think when you bring a guy in that has been a Pro Bowler at the position and is as professional as he is … just watching him today, his attitude, how he approaches his job, his confidence, you see why he was good at what he did for so many years. That’s exactly what we needed.”

Washington participated in his first practice with the Titans on Wednesday. He replaces Devon Wylie, who suffered a fumbled kickoff and a muffed punt in two weeks in his two weeks on the roster.

Wylie had replaced the injured Damian Williams, who had replaced the error-prone Darius Reynaud.

“When it comes down to returning kicks and playing football, just go out and have fun, but prepare yourself,” Washington said. “I believe in my preparation when it comes down to returning kicks, so I feel like I’ll do a good job at it.”

Washington didn’t play much in New England this year because of thigh and ankle injuries, but he says he’s healthier now. The Titans hope he displays the form that has produced eight kick-return touchdowns over his eight NFL seasons.

“It’s going to take communication — getting to practice this week, and me communicating with the guys and letting them know what I think and what I look for when I return kicks, and kind of getting a feel for how they do things around here,” Washington said.

“But I’ve talked to some guys already, and let them know how seriously I take special teams. I don’t do special teams just to be in the game. You try to win the game on special teams. That’s how I feel about it.”

Washington said he tries to keep things simple when it comes to his returns, pointing out that he usually favors more of a straight-line approach than a lot of zigzagging.

“I feel preparation is the No. 1 thing, so you can put yourself in the right spot to take advantage of the opportunity. Then after that, catch the ball,” Washington said. “That’s the first thing you have to do. Then just trust the players around you to make good blocks.”

Tennessee worked Washington and Mike Thomas out earlier today, after return man Devon Wylie fumbled twice in two games for the Titans.

An eight-year veteran, Washington was released earlier this week by New England after playing just two games for the Patriots.

In his career, Washington has returned 245 kicks for a 25.9-yard average and eight touchdowns. He returned three kicks for touchdowns in both 2007 and 2010. Washington has returned 168 punts for a 9.9-yard average and zero touchdowns.

Washington spent 2012 in Seattle, returning 27 kicks for a 29-yard average and one touchdown, and returning 41 punts for an 8.7-yard average and zero touchdowns.

Wylie had replaced injured wide receiver Damian Williams (hip), who is expected to return to practice this week.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/26/titans-plan-to-sign-leon-washington/feed/0Williams hopes to be running next weekhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/21/williams-hopes-to-be-running-next-week/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/21/williams-hopes-to-be-running-next-week/#commentsThu, 21 Nov 2013 20:31:48 +0000JOHN GLENNON, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=27708Wide receiver Damian Williams (hip) said he expects to start running again next week, and hopes to return to practice the week after that.

When he first suffered his injury — a labral tear — against the Jaguars on Nov. 10, Williams suspected he might be done for the year.

“That may have been the worst sports injury I ever had, just in terms of the initial pain,” he said.

Surgery is sometimes required for a labral tear, Williams said, but he’s hoping he won’t need to go that route.

“I’m getting better. I’m walking better. I’m walking fairly normal now,” said Williams, who stopped using crutches on Monday. “It was good to get rid of those crutches. My armpits were hurting.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/21/williams-hopes-to-be-running-next-week/feed/0Schwenke hopes to play against Oaklandhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/20/schwenke-hopes-to-play-against-oakland/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/20/schwenke-hopes-to-play-against-oakland/#commentsWed, 20 Nov 2013 23:26:00 +0000JOHN GLENNON, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=27680High-ankle sprains can often keep players sidelined for several weeks, but Titans rookie center Brian Schwenke is getting increasingly optimistic about his chances of playing Sunday in Oakland.

Schwenke, who earned his first start Oct. 20, suffered the injury Nov. 10 against the Jaguars and missed last Thursday’s game against the Colts. He was limited in practice on Wednesday, taking part in all individual drills and a few team drills.

“I was pleasantly surprised how well it did today,” Schwenke said. “(Tuesday) on the field with the trainers, it was not as great as I thought it would be. But I went out there today, and honestly it felt almost perfect, taped up and everything. There really wasn’t anything I couldn’t do.”

Coach Mike Munchak was more guarded in his prognosis: “He’s headed in the right direction. Tomorrow we’ll know more. He’ll do a lot more team work and see how the ankle responds.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/20/schwenke-hopes-to-play-against-oakland/feed/0Titans should be healthier for Oaklandhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/15/titans-should-be-healthier-for-oakland/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/15/titans-should-be-healthier-for-oakland/#commentsFri, 15 Nov 2013 21:59:33 +0000JOHN GLENNON, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=27608The Titans should be a healthier team when they return to action Nov. 24 against Oakland.

Munchak wasn’t as sure about wide receiver Damian Williams (hip) or cornerback Tommie Campbell (shoulder). Williams was still using crutches on Thursday after suffering his injury last Sunday against Jacksonville.

“It’s a long week and guys have come a long way in the past from injuries,” Munchak said of Williams. “So he’s going to be a week-to-week kind of deal. He’s gotten a lot better than he was in the first couple of days.”

Rookie wide receiver Justin Hunter was going through the league’s concussion protocol after taking a hard hit Thursday, but Munchak expected him to be ready for Oakland.

“Schwenke is pretty sore,” Munchak said. “With the short week, it’s going to be hard for him … Those ankles can get better quickly or it could be something that will take a little time. We’re kind of holding our breath.”

As for previous injuries, Munchak was optimistic that tackle David Stewart – who has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury – will return Thursday. He sounded less certain about the prospects for linebacker Moise Fokou (knee), who’s missed the last three games.

Those not practicing for the Titans on Monday included Jake Locker, Williams, Fokou, Schwenke, guard Chance Warmack (ankle) and linebacker Zaviar Gooden (hamstring). Stewart was a limited participant.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/11/titans-inj-update-for-monday/feed/0No more Verner as returnerhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/11/no-more-verner-as-returner-for-titans/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/11/11/no-more-verner-as-returner-for-titans/#commentsMon, 11 Nov 2013 23:34:22 +0000JOHN GLENNON, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=27522The injury to Titans wide receiver Damian Williams left cornerback Alterraun Verner returning punts and kicks toward the end of Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville, but it doesn’t sound as if Verner will handle those duties Thursday against Indianapolis.

Verner is simply too valuable to risk as a regular returner.

“We’re going to look at that,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said. “We can’t lose our best corner, playing as well as he is. Damian’s out there one game and gets hurt. It’s a tough position to have to play. It’s another position we’re looking at to see what the best way to go about it is for Thursday night.”

One option for the Titans would be activating recently signed practice-squad addition Devon Wylie, a 5-9, 187-pounder out of Fresno St. Wylie returned nine kick-offs for a 21.2-yard average for Kansas City last season, and also returned five punts for a 5.2-yard average.